NELSONVILLE, Ohio – Nelsonville City Council returned to City Hall Tuesday, where the public heard from four council committees.
The city is expected to move forward with the purchase of a partial lot for a proposed “pocket park,” resident Lynn Garbo and City Manager Danette Miller told the Parks and Recreation Committee.
Garbo pitched the idea to Nelsonville’s statutory city council in July. The park would be located at 10 W. Washington St, a lot for sale that is currently occupied by the Athens County Community Cares Resource Center, and would be dedicated to Nelsonville founder Daniel Nelson.
According to Garbo, Athens County commissioners initially said the parcel could only be purchased whole and that they would only sell it to the City of Nelsonville. But Miller said the commissioners were swayed by Garbo’s plan and agreed to sell the split lot, as of Garbo’s last meeting with them. In her most recent appeal, she said she proposed that the city buy a roughly 6,600 square foot piece of the lot for $15,000.
Resident Patrick Norway expressed his support for the pocket park on behalf of The Mine Tavern, where he works as the general manager. Garbo said the plan also has the support of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio and Stuart’s Opera House.
As committee members discussed possible funding and grant opportunities for the project, a resident in attendance who said they did not want to share their name publically raised their hand to announce that they are willing to make a $15,000 donation to support the project.
Speaking later during finance committee proceedings, City Council President Cameron Peck described the donor as “a Good Samaritan.”
Funding for the proposed pocket park was already set on the council’s agenda to be discussed among the finance committee.
The Parks and Recreation committee closed its meeting by moving forward to full council a proposal that the City Manager submit a letter of interest to county commissioners for the lot.
Planning and Development Committee considers regulation updates
Resident Bernard Roell, who announced earlier this year that his business Adventure Outdoor Pro will add a petting zoo to its attractions, was in attendance during the Planning and Development Committee’s meeting and spoke about his experience navigating regulations.
Nelsonville’s City Code does not contain specific regulations for petting zoos; rather, Roell said, his petting zoo will be expected to follow any existing rules that might apply, such as regulations for livestock, noise, and waste management.
Roell said he communicated his plans with City Code Enforcement Officer Austin Kelley, who helped him review regulations in order to confirm its legality.
Council members discussed areas in which more specific language might be necessary. Speaking from the audience, Charlotte Beech recommended that the committee consider an ordinance that would create disaster mitigation measures for the animals and address potential emergency evacuation plans.
The committee ultimately recommended that the city manager and administration review current rules before the committee would propose new regulations.
The committee also discussed funding for a feral cat spay and neuter program in Nelsonville, which council member Gregg Clement said has already been addressed in the FY 2027 budget.
In preparation for the city’s Bigfoot Festival, which Nelsonville will host the first weekend of October, council members discussed transient vendor permits, which festival vendors such as food trucks, rides, and other attractions are required to obtain. Council member Cameron Peck explained that individual vendors, rather than the organizer of the festival, are responsible for obtaining permits, which can complicate the question of enforcement.
In addition, council members discussed enforcement mechanisms for transient vendor permits, rental code violations, and tree branches obstructing public sidewalks, alleys and grounds. Regarding removal of trees creating obstructions, the committee recommended that Fire Chief Hary Barber and code enforcement officer Austin Kelley brainstorm enforcement options.
Utilities Committee revisits tech policy discussions
The Utilities Committee revisited the issue of the city’s compliance with Ohio HB 96, as well as recommendations set forth by the Public Entities Pool, which include establishing a city artificial intelligence use policy. The full council debated potential terms for the policy last week before moving to send the item back to the Utilities Committee for further review.
Committee members weighed options for an IT vendor before moving to send the issue to the Finance Committee, which would make a final decision between the vendors — FreedomLinx, an IT company based in Chillicothe, and iTech. Council member Charlotte Beech noted that while iTech offers a comprehensive plan that would meet the city’s cybersecurity needs, a contract with FreedomLinx would require “piecemealing,” resulting in a higher overall price tag. Auditor Brian Elkins added that iTech currently manages copiers and printers for the city, as well as for the water and sewer plants, and praised iTech as reliable. “Anytime we need any toner cartridges, anything, they’re just a call away,” Elkins said.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee discussed changes to utility fees that would restructure the way that the city handles delinquent water bills. The proposal, which was referred by the Utilities Committee following its last meeting, would replace existing fees with an upfront, returnable deposit, a measure intended to prevent landlords from getting stuck with unpaid fees when so-called delinquent users move away.
Last week, the Utilities Committee proposed a $150–175 range for the deposit before referring the change to the Finance Committee for review.
The second committee time selected iTech as the vendor that the city would move forward with in order to meet cybersecurity standards — a decision which will allow the city to fulfill another of the 16 PEP recommendations if approved by the full council.
A third item would have addressed funding for the pocket park, but was resolved by the attendee’s unexpected $15,000 pledge towards its development.
Nelsonville’s charter City Council will hold its next regular meeting at City Hall at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14.
